Overview
When a guest submits an alteration request that changes only the number of guests — with no change to check-in or check-out dates — Airbnb's API will not recalculate the price, even if your LOS pricing table includes a different rate for the new guest count. This is expected behavior, not a bug.
Why this happens
LOS pricing is structured around three variables: check-in date, number of nights, and guest count. However, per Airbnb's reservation alteration documentation, when an alteration involves only a guest count change, the system retains the original reservation price rather than re-evaluating the LOS table.
"In cases where the alteration consists of a change in the number of guests only (check-in and check-out remain the same), we will not recalculate the price."
— Airbnb Developer Docs: Reservation Alteration on LOS Listings
What about the extra_guest_fee field?
You may notice extra_guest_fee: "0.00" in the alteration data. This is also expected. The extra_guest_fee field is part of the standard pricing model and is not supported for LOS listings. It will always appear as 0.00 and can be safely ignored.
What hosts can do
If the host needs to capture the higher rate for the new guest count (for example, a 4-guest rate of $650 for 6 nights as defined in the LOS table), the alteration cannot be used to achieve this. The options are:
Decline the alteration — the reservation remains at the original guest count and price.
Ask the guest to cancel and rebook — when the guest makes a new booking with the correct guest count, the LOS table will be applied fresh and the correct rate will be charged.
Summary
Scenario | Result |
Guest count changes, dates stay the same | Price is not recalculated |
| Always |
Host wants higher rate for more guests | Decline alteration; guest must rebook |